Hope, now 4-4 (4), is a short powerful fighter who is a little wild, and since Algieri seemed content to mix it up on the inside, Hope’s style led to many unintentional headbutts.
Then, in the beginning of the third round, one of those headbutts suddenly opened up a vertical gash over Algieri’s right eye, which seemed to wake Algieri up. Algieri, who has never been cut before, immediately got up on his toes and began to pick Hope apart from the outside.
Rounds three and four saw Algieri sticking solid jabs into Hope’s face while also landing powerful counter right hands, which were starting to take their toll on Hope.
But Hope was not done and, in the beginning of the fifth round, he pinned Algieri against the ropes and began to unleash a barrage of punches. Algieri was successful in picking off most of the shots, while sneaking in counter left hooks.
Then, with ten seconds left in the fifth, Hope threw a right hand which Algieri countered perfectly with a left hook over the top that rocked Hope badly. Algieri moved in to finish him, but Hope was saved by the bell.
Hope spent the majority of round six covering up on the ropes trying to steady himself while Algieri landed at will, with a strong stiff jab and powerful combinations.
After his victory, MaxBoxing caught up with Algieri and asked for his take on his performance.
“I learned a lot from this fight,” Algieri stated, “and now that I’ve been to the big show, I can put the jitters behind me and look for bigger and better things in the future.”
“It was a tough fight because I let it be,” Algieri continued. “If I would have used my head and my boxing talent from the beginning it would have been an easy fight all night.”
And that, my friends, is how young fighters on the way up learn their lessons and hone their craft.
Subscribe to feed
